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Coronavirus is not just a health crisis — it’s an environmental justice crisis

Nick Fullerton – Richmond oil refinery fire1

 By Yvette Cabrera, Grist Highlights There are large disparities in COVID-19 deaths among people who have historically faced environmental justice issues within the US.  African-American communities have historically been disproportionately housed near sources of large pollution, particularly in the South, leading these communities to develop asthma, cancers, and other respiratory problems This life long exposure … Read more

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COVID-19 will not slow the climate crisis. Only sound policy can.

From Science Daily Highlights Energy and climate policy researchers in Switzerland and Germany support policies allowing a clean energy transition guide the COVID-19 economic response. The researchers suggest investing in solutions that would advance Paris Agreement climate goals and dismantle systems that hurt global emissions goals Though there are fewer emissions due to shelter in … Read more

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Paris has a plan to keep cars out after lockdown

By Feargus O’Sullivan, City Lab Highlights Anne Hildago, Mayor of Paris, France, wants to limit the use of cars once the city lifts its lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Hildago notes that poor air quality can lead to an increased risk for fatal effects of COVID-19: “It will make the health crisis worse. … Read more

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Solar and wind cheapest sources of power in most of the world

By Brian Eckhouse, Bloomberg Highlights Solar power and onshore wind power are now the cheapest new sources of electricity in the majority of the world’s population. The Levelized Cost of Energy for wind has fallen 9% and solar has dropped by 4%   Prices are especially low in the U.S., China, and Brazil  Improvements in the technology, … Read more

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Southern California Edison contracts mammoth 770mw energy storage portfolio to replace California gas plants

Horizontal Single Axis Trackers (RayTracker) Solar Installation near Winters, California by User:Msrt10

By Jeff St. John, Greentech Media Highlights Investor-owned utility Southern California Edison (SCE)  has signed multiple grid battery contracts totaling in 770 megawatts of storage. SCE aims to have these seven projects live by August 2021, making it the fastest turnaround for a project of this size These batteries will be stationed at existing solar … Read more

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Wall street is bending to pressure to halt Arctic-oil loans

Arctic Drilling

By Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Bloomberg Green Highlights Environmental activists are fighting oil companies to keep drilling out of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by putting divestment pressure on banks. Tribal representatives and other environmental activists pressed banking executives about their policies during shareholder meetings and in conversations with sustainability directors Morgan Stanley has announced that … Read more

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Historic ‘megadrought’ underway in California, American West, new study finds

By Paul Rogers, The Mercury News Highlights Nine Western US states have been experiencing an extended mass drought, called a “megadrought.”  Scientists studied over 30,000 tree rings to determine the amount of rainfall and soil moisture over the centuries. The West’s last extended drought period was between 1576 and 1603 and the 20th century was … Read more

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COVID, the California legislature, and climate policy for healthy soils

by Renata Brillinger, CalCAN Highlights The coronavirus pandemic is affecting farmworkers, food system resilience, and climate change impacts. The legislative session will be more constricted and fewer bills will be advance, but partners such as the California Climate and Agricultural Network will continue to work for healthy soils initiatives. Two bills are key: AB 1071 … Read more